Wood-bending machine



(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 1. W. J. WOODWARD & H. E. BRETT.

WOOD BENDING MACHINE. No. 596,645. Patented Jan. 4 1898.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. J. WOODWARD & H. E. BRETT.

WOOD BENDING MACHINE. No. 596,645. Patented Jan.4,1898.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.' W. J. WOODWARD & H. E. BRETT.

I WOOD BENDING MACHINE. No. 596,645. Patented Jan. 4.1898.

mines-sew fi zJW . 5 Sheet sSheet 4. W. J. WOODWARD & H. E. BRETT.

(No Model.)

WOOD BENDING MACHINE. No. 596,645.

Patented Jan. 4, 1898.

N M La W I C C Em WM NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

'WALTER J. WOOD WARD, OF NATIONAL CITY, AND HENRY E. BRETT, OF LOSANGELES, CALIFORNIA; SAID WOODWARD ASSIGNOR TO D. P. N. LITTLE, C. W.SANDERS, AND EMMA A. HARRINGTON, OF LOS ANGELES, AND HATTIE I.IVOODWARD, OF NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA.

WQOD-BENDIING MACHINE.

SPECIFIGATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 596,645, dated January4, 1898.

' Application filed February 15, 1897. Serial No. 623,560. (No model.)

provements in food-Bending Machines, of

which the following is a specification. Our invention relatesparticularly to machines for bending boards longitudinallyintotrough-shaped sections for the purpose of forming wooden pipes. It mustbe understood that the bending of long boards along I 5 the grain is amatter much more difficult to accomplish than that of bendingcomparatively narrow strips of wood across the grain, as is common forthe purpose of producing fellies,plow-handles,bicycle-rims,dvc. Bendingacross the grain is comparatively easy to accomplish, since wood bentacross the grain has no great tendency to split, the principaldifficulty being its tendency to shiver or splinter by the expansion ofthe outer fibers or buckling caused by compression of the inner fibersduring the process of bending. When, however, one attempts to bend along board longitudinally into semicircular shape or any segment of acircle, it is found that unless 3o wood is used which is very tough andfibrous, such as elm and analogous woods, the amount of stock which issplit and rendered worthless during the process of bending is very aptto exceed the amount which is successfully bent. In southern Californiaa large quantity of pipe is used for conveying water for irrigation andother purposes. It has heretofore been customary, where possible, toemploy for this purpose cement pipe, which is of a low '40 degree oftenacity and incapable of withstanding heavy pressure,but iscomparatively cheap. Cement pipe is only satisfactory for use inconveying water where no pressure is required, and even without pressurethe loss' 5 of water from seepage and accidental defects in the joints,which occur about every two feet, is very great. Where it is necessarythat the pipe withstand pressure, it has been customary to use rivetedsheet-metal pipe,

which is extremely susceptible to rust and is liable to leak, owing toits many joints and seams. Joints and seams also reduce the carryingcapacity of the pipe. On account of excessive freight rates from easternpoints to this coast this pipe is expensive, and the 55.

tendency has been to use metal of light quality in order to reduce cost.Many soils in California abound in alkali, and consequently these thinmetal pipes soon rust out and become worthless. Screw-pipe is highlysatis- 6o factory in use, but its excessive cost precludes its use forirrigation purposes. This is also true of cast-iron pipe, the interestupon the difference in cost between cast iron and Wooden pipe beingestimated to be sufficient to lay a new system of wooden pipe aboutevery eight years.

Ever since the development of extensive irrigation systems in Californiaattempts have been made to providea pipe which is strong, cheap, anddurable. Some partial successes have been made, and many devices, whichupon use have proved wholly unsatisfactory, have been invented, tested,and abandoned.

.Wooden pipes have long been in limited use in Eastern States and haveproved highly satisfactory. These pipes have, however,been formed byboring a hole longitudinally through an integral stick of timber,cutting staves into curved form, or bending into tu- 8o bular formboards of tough wood, such as elm or other wood havinginterlockingfibers, which render splitting difficult, and securing the overlappingedges together by riveting. Lumber is too expensive in southernCalifornia to permit the use of pipes of integral timbers bored out orof pipe formed of curved staves cut into shape. Tough wood, such as elm,must be imported from Eastern States, and high freight rates, combinedwith first cost, renders it more expensive than sheet metal.

California produces a species of wood known as the California redwood,which is very straight-grained, easy to split, and is particu- 5 larlyfree from knots and other blemishes.

It is characterized by extreme durability when saturated with water, andtherefore in this respect is peculiarly fitted for use in making pipesfor irrigation purposes. In experimenting, however, it was found thatwhenit was attempted to bend this wood by any of the ordinary meansheretofore in use for woodbending, owing to its straight grain and lackof toughness, the boards would split from end to end, rendering themworthless.

The especial object of our invention is to produce a machine whereby wemay bend long boards into semicircular shape without liability of theirsplitting.

A further object of our invention is to produce a machine of this-classin which formers of different sizes may be used without necessity ofchanging any of the mechanism of the machine except the formers and theposition of the edge clamps, and whereby boards of different widths maybe bent into shape to form pipes of different diameters-that is to say,with our machine it is possible without changing anything but theformers and edge clamps to bend boards into shape to form a six-inchpipe or to form. a twelve-inch pipe of two sections or a larger pipe ofthree or more sections.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine of this kind inwhich any expansion of the outer fiber of the wood will be prevented andtheinner fibers will be compressed, to thereby form a'pipe having aninner lining of compressed wood, which will prevent seepage of waterthrough the walls of the pipe. In this respect it is well to state thatthe redwood is formed of alternate layers of hard and soft grain, and inmaking pipe of small diameter we find it is essential that the grain bevertical, or nearly so, or, in other words, that the grain extendparallel with the thickness of the board instead of parallel-with itswidth. Thus when the boards are bent the soft layers of wood, which intheir normal condition are pervious to water, are compressed between thehard layers, which are practically impervious and incompressible, thusrendering the soft layers equally impervious with the hard layers, sothat liability of seepage of water through the pipe is avoided.

The amount of compression which takes place in bending a ten-inch boardis much greater than appears possible from a mere casual inspection. Forinstance, in making pipe we use boards of seven-eighths-inch thickness,and in bending atwelve-inch'board into semicircular shape the outside ofthe board after bending measures exactly twelve inches, while the insidemeasures but nine and one-fourth inches, thus showing that the innersurface of the board has been compressed two and three-fourths inches.-It is essential that the boards be held in their bent shape asufficient length of time to allow them to set. This necessitates theuse of clamps to hold them in position or the allowing of the boards toremain in the machine until set. The length of time required for thisprecludes the practicability of allowing the boards to set while in themachine, and therefore it becomes necessary to so arrange and adapt themachine as to allow clamps to be inserted at frequent intervals alongthe board after it is formed and before it is released from the machine,so that such clamps may be placed in position, the machine released, theformer removed from the interior of the board, and the bent board, withits clamps, removed from its machine and allowed to set before theclamps are removed.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine adapted forbending long boards and to allow the placing of clamps at frequentintervals along the length of the board before the board is releasedfrom the machine and the ready removal of the former after the clampsare applied.

Our invention comprises the various features of construction andcombinations of parts whereby we accomplish the objects hereinbefore setforth.

Our invention further comprises the clamp which we have devised for'thepurpose of retaining the formed board in its bent position while it issetting.

The accompanying drawings illustrate our invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying our invention. Fig.2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail showing ourimproved clamp in use upon a fragment of board formed into shape. Fig.at is a perspective fragmental view showing one section of our machine.Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional plan view on line 5 5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6is a sectional view on line 6 6, Fig. 1, looking toward the left.

In the drawings, A represents the main frame, which is of a lengthsuitable to receive the length of board which it is desired to bend.Boards of sixteen feet in length have been successfully bent in a crudemachine embodying the essential features of our present invention.

B is a presser-bar which is arranged in the main frame and extendslongitudinally from one end to the other end thereof. This presser-baris provided with guide-rods O, which reciprocate in guideways providedin the main frame.

a are springs arranged encircling the guiderods and resting upon movablecollars c, which are arranged to slide upon the guiderods. Tension nuts0, screwed upon the guide-rods, are adapted to regulate the tension ofthe springs.

Upon the top of the presser-bar and supported thereby is a bending tableD, which is formed of flexible sheet metal, preferably sheet-steel. Thisbending-table is formed in separate sections (1 d, &c., and is arrangedwith a space D between the opposing ends of the sections, the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter more fully explained.

E E are struts which are each pivoted at its lower end to the main frameand extend up- IIO ward to near the mid-line of the bending-table andare arranged upon opposite sides of the presser-bar.

F F are bending-levers arranged upon opposite sides of the table andeach having its inner'end pivoted to one of the pivoted struts.

The edge of the table is rigidly secured to each lever intermediate itsends, so that that portion of the lever beneath the table may swing outaway from the table as the table is bent up around the former.

G G represent movable clamps which are made in sections corresponding tothe sec-' I is laid thereto.

I is a vertically-reciprocating former-frame which is arranged insuitable guides t' in the main frame andjadapted to reciprocate therein.

I is a counterbalance for holding theformerframe normally elevated.

J is a former which is arranged on the bottom of the former-frame. Thisformer is made in sections jj, &c. corresponding to the sections of thebending-table, and a corresponding space J is left between the opposingends of the sections. This former is held in place by means of adovetail groove in the former and a dovetail slide on the formerframe,so that the sections of one size can be easily removed and replaced withsections of different size when it is desired to change the diameter ofthe pipe produced.

K is a sheave-carrying shaft which is arranged in the former-frame andis provided with series of sheaves k 71'), &c., which are free to rotateupon the shaft.

L L are winding-drum-carrying shafts which are journaled in the mainframe upon opposite sides of the former-frame and belowv the sheaves inthe former-frame. Upon these shafts are rigidly secured winding-drums ZZ, &o., and to each Winding-drum is secured a flexible connection, suchas a chain M M, respectively, each of which passes up over one of thesheaves in the former-frame,thence down and has its other end secured tolinks on m, which are journaled upon shafts m m, which connect thebending levers. Driving-wheels L L are secured upon the drum-shaft andare operated by worms N N, secured upon a worm-shaft O, which isoperated by means of a power-wheel 0, connected 5 by a belt or othermeans with suitable power.

(Not shown.)

It will be seen that our improved machine is practically built up ofindependent sections, each section comprising a bending-table,bending-levers, a presser-bar, pivoted struts, presser-springs, aformer-frame, a former, winding-drums, &c., the various sections beingassembled to form a machine capable of handling boards of any lengthdesired. The winding-drums are preferably arranged to rotate in reversedirections and to each wind the chain beneath the drum instead of on topthereof, so that each chain may pass from the bottom ofits windingdrumup over its respective sheave in the former-frame, thence down andsecured to that bending-lever shaft which is upon the same side of theformer-frame as is the windin g-drum to which the chain is secured. Thisbrings the strain more in line with the line of motionof theformer-frame and of the bending-levers and gives greater leverage powerthan would otherwise be obtained.

In practical operation the boards are first steamed or otherwise treatedto render them pliable and less brittle than in their dry state. Then,the bending-machine being in its normal position, as indicated in Fig.2, the board is placed upon the bending-table and between the clamps.Then the shafts H H are rotated by means of the cranks H 11", thus bymeans of the eccentrics h h to operate the movable clamps G G to clampagainst the edges of the board. Then poweris applied to the power-wheelO to operate the worm shaft 0, thus operating the driving-wheels L L androtating the winding-drum shafts L L toward each other, thus winding upthe flexible connections or chains M M and pulling down upon suchchains. The first result is to bring strain upon the sheaves, and as thechains wind upon the drums the former-frame is first forced downwarduntil the former rests upon the board placed upon the flexiblebending-table. As soon as the former is firmly seated upon the board thestrain then operates to lift the bending-levers upward, and as thelevers swing up toward each other they swing around the former, (whichrepresents the load to be lifted,) the pivoted struts acting as ashifting or movable fulcrum or support. wood only at the point ofcontact of the board with the former and is never in advance of thepoint of bending. This causes the wood at this point to be crowdedtogether and forced in upon itself without any liability whatever ofsplitting. The operation continues until the bending-arms reach theirutmost limit of stroke,the former being automatically pushed down tofollow the bending-table as the levers are removed from beneath it. Thisdownward movement is not very great, however,

but is sufficient to make the difference be-' tween success and failure,it being necessary that the table be held firmly to its work without anyrigidity thereof.

As the levers are swung upward in the operation of bending the pivotedstruts are thus IIO The strain is thus brought upon the carried outwardaway from the presser-bar, and this draws upon the links which operatethe collar to slide it upward along the guiderod and to compress thespring thereupon, thus automatically increasing the tension upon thepresser-bar as the tension upon the former is increased. By means of thetension-nut this pressure can be adjusted with that degree of nicetywhich we have found to be necessary to success.

After the bending is completed clamps, each consisting of a spring orflexible clip P, bent into substantially semicircular shape, areinserted beneath the board in the spaces D between the ends of thesections of the table and the-ends of the formers, suitable slots Bbeing provided in the presser-bar to readily permit the passage of theclamps theret'hrough. The clip P is provided in each end with alongitudinal slot P, anda yoke P, formed of metal (preferablystrap-metal) having its ends flattened to pass through the slots P, isslipped edgewise into the slots and then turned flatwise,the yoke beingprovided with notches p to receive the body of the clip.

Keys 10 are driven into the slots above the yoke to bring the yokefirmly down upon the top of the edge of the bent board. 'When all theyokes are thus secured in place, the power.

is reversed, the former is lifted by the counterweights, and the partsresume their normal position, Then the bent board is removed from themachine and stacked away until it becomes thoroughly dried and set,after which the clamps may be removed and the sections formed into pipe.

By our improved arrangement of having compensating means connectingthebendinglevers with the former and adapted to move the former down uponthe bending-table before operating the levers to bend the table we areenabled to provide a machine of this character in which formers ofdifferent sizes may be used without any rearrangement of the machineother than the changing of the formers and clamps, the compensatingconnection taking up all the difference in motion and causing thebending-levers to snugly hug the former during the operation of bending,irrespective of the size of the former.

In the drawings we have shown each of the flexible connections M Mattached, bymeans of' links m m, respectively, to the bendinglevershafts; but the effect is the samev whether each connection operates oneor more levers, and ourinvention is not limited thereto.

Now, having described our invention,what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a Wood-bending machine, the combination set forth of a movableformer; a bending-table formed of a sheet of flexible metal, arrangedbeneath the former; a movable presser-bar arranged beneath thebendingtable; bending-levers, each secured intermediate its ends to oneedge of the table and pivoted at one end near the mid-line of thebending-table and adapted to bend such table upward around the former;winding-drums; and a flexible connection secured at one end to thewinding-drum and at the other end to the outer ends of thebending-levers and having the intermediate portion passed around asheave and adapted to operate the former.

2. In a wood-bending machine, the combination set forth of a main frame;averticallymovable former-frame arranged in guideways in the main frame;a counterweight arranged to hold the former-frame normally elevated;sheaves journaled in the former-frame; winding-drums journaled in themain frame and arranged below the sheaves; a former secured to theformer-frame a flexible bending-table formed of sheet metal arrangedbeneath the former; a yielding presser-bar arranged beneath the mid-lineof the bending-table; struts, each pivoted by one end to the main frameand extending upward to near the midline of the bending-table;bending-levers, each pivoted at one end to one of the pivoted struts andsecured intermediate its ends to one edge of the bending-table; flexibleconnections, each having one end secured to one of the winding-drums,passed around one of the sheaves in the movable frame and extendingthence downward and secured to the outer end of one of thebending-levers; and means for rotating the winding-drums.

3. In a wood-bending machine, the combination set forth of a main frame;a movable former-frame arranged in guideways in the main frame; sheavesjournaled in the formerframe; a former secured to the bottom of themovable frame; two winding drums journaled in the main frame below thesheaves; a flexible bending-table; bending-levers arranged beneath theflexible table and each having its inner end pivoted to a pivoted strutand secured intermediate its end to the edge of the bending-table; powerfor operating the winding-drums; flexible connections, each having oneend secured to oneof the win ding-drums, passed over one of the sheavesin the movable frame and downward and having its other end secured tothe outer end of one of the bending-levers.

- 4. In a wood-bending machine, the combination set forth of a mainframe; a movable former-frame arranged to slide in guideways in the mainframe; a former secured to the former-frame; sheaves journaled in theformer-frame; winding-drums journaled in the main frame below thesheaves; a flexible bending-table arranged below the former; movableclamps arranged upon the bendingtable; a presser -bar arranged beneaththe mid-line of the table; springs arranged to yieldingly support thepresser-bar; movable struts, each pivoted at its lower end to the mainframe and having its upper end arranged normally near the mid-line ofthe table; bending-levers each having its inner end pivoted to one ofthe movable struts, ar-

ranged beneath the bending-table and secured intermediate its ends toone edge of the bend ing-table; flexible connections, each secured toone of the winding-drums, passed up over one of the sheaves in theformer-frame and then doWn and having its other end secured to one ofthe bending-levers; and means for rotating the Winding-drums.

5. In a bending-machine, the combination set forth of a main frame; ayieldingly-supported presser-bar; a bendingtable formed of a sheet offlexible metal arranged above the presser-bar and supported thereby; twobending-levers, one arranged upon each side of the presser-bar andbeneath the bendingtable and having one edge of the bending-tablesecured thereto; movable supports, one arranged pivoting the inner endof each lever; a movable former arranged above the bending-table; meansarranged to operate the bending-levers to bend the table around theformer; and compensating means connecting the bending-levers With theformer and adapted to operate the former when the levers are operated.

6. In a wood-bending machine, the combination set forth of a main frame;a presserbar provided with guide-rods; springs arranged encircling theguide-rods; a bendingtable arranged above the presser-bar;bending-levers, arranged upon each side of the presser-bar and beneaththe table and having the edges of the table secured thereto; movablesupports pivoting the inner ends of the bending-levers; aformer-carrying frame arranged in guideways in the main frame; a formersecured to the former-frame; sheaves journaled in the formerframe;Windingdrums journaled in the main frame below the sheaves in theformer-frame; flexible connections, each secured by one end to one ofthe Winding-drums, passed .over one of the sheaves in the former-frame,thence down and having its other end secured to the outer end of one ofthe bending-levers; and means for operating the Winding-drums.

7. In a Wood-bending machine, the combination set forth of a main frame;a presserbar provided with a guide-rod arranged to reciprocate in themain frame; a tensionspring encircling the guide-rod; a collar arrangedto slide upon the guide-rod to compress the spring; a flexiblebending-table arranged upon the presser-bar; bending-levers, onearranged upon each side of the presserbar and having one edge of thebending-table secured thereto; pivoted struts pivoting the inner ends ofthe bending-levers; links connecting the struts with the collar upon theguide-rod; a movable former arranged above the bending-levers; and meansadapted to move the former down upon and cause it to follow thebending-table when the levers are actuated to bend the bending-tablearound the former.

8. In a Wood-bending machine, the combination of a main frame; apresser-bar provided with a guide-rod arranged to reciprocate in themain frame; a tensionspring encircling the guide-rod; a collar arrangedto the bending-levers; links connecting the col lar with the pivotedstruts; a former-frame arranged to reciprocate in the main frame; aformer secured to the former-frame and arranged above the bendingtable;sheaves journaled in the former frame; Windingdrums j ournaled in themain frame below the sheaves; and flexible connections, each having oneend secured to one of the windingdrums, passed over one of the sheaves,thence down and secured to the outer end of one of the bending-levers.

9. In a wood-bending machine, the combination set forth of a yieldingpresser-bar; a flexible bending-table arranged above the presser-bar;bendin g-levers arranged beneath the bending-table and secured to theedges of the table; movable supports arranged pivoting the inner ends ofthe bending-levers; a movable former arranged above the bendingtable;suitable means for operating the bending-levers to bend thebending-table around the former; and a yielding connection arrangedbetween the presser-bar and the bending-levers and adapted to regulatethe pressure of the presser-bar.

10. In a Wood-bending machine, the combination set forth of a mainframe; "a presserbar arranged in the main frame and provided with aguide-rod a flexible bending-table ar" ranged upon the presser-bar; twobendinglevers, one arranged upon each side of the presser-bar beneaththe bending-table and having one edge of the table secured thereto;pivoted struts pivoting the inner ends of the bendinglevers; a collararranged to slide upon the presser-bar guide-rod; links connecting thestruts with the collar; a tensionnut arranged to regulate the tension ofthe spring; a movable frame; a former secured to the frame and arrangedabove the bending table; sheaves journaled in the former-frameWinding-drums journaled in the main frame below the sheaves; flexibleconnections, each having one end secured to one of the Winding drums,passed around one of the sheaves, thence down and secured to the outerend of one of the bending-levers; and means for rotating theWinding-drums.

11. In a Wood-bending machine, the combination set forth of a mainframe; a yielding presser-bar; a flexible bending-table arranged uponthe presser bar; bending levers arranged beneath the bending-table andsecured to the edges thereof; movable supports ar- IIO ranged pivotingthe inner ends of the bending-levers; movable clamps arranged upon thebending-table; a tension device connecting the presser-bar with thebending-levers; a movable former arranged above the bending table;suitable means connecting the former with the levers and adapted to movethe former down upon the bending-table and to actuate the levers to bendthe bending-table around the former.

12. In a wood-bending machine, the combination set forth of a mainframe; a yielding presser-bar; a flexible bending-table arranged uponthe presser-bar; bending-levers arranged beneath the bending-table andsecured to the edges thereof; movable supports pivoting the innerends ofthe bending-levers; a tension device connecting the presser bar with thebending-levers; a former-frame arranged to reciprocate in the mainframe; a former secured to the formerframe and arranged over thebending-table; and automatic means arranged to first force the formerdown against the bending-table and then to actuate the levers to bendthe bending-table around the former.

13. In a wood-bending machine, the combination set forth of a series ofsections arranged in line with each other and each section comprising amovable presser bar; a flexible bending-table; bending-levers secured tothe edges of the bending-table and adapted to bend such table around theformer; movable supports pivoting the inner ends of the bonding-levers;movable clamps arranged upon the bending-table; a movable formerarranged above the bending-table; and means connecting the former withthe levers and adapted to first operate the former to carry it towardthe bending-table and to next operate the levers to bend thebending-table around the former.

14. In a bending-machine, the combination set forth of a main frame;series of sections arranged in the main frame and each composed of apresser-bar; a flexible bending-table; bending-levers secured to theedge of the bending-table; pivoted struts pivoting the inner ends of thebending-levers; an adjustable connection between the bending-levers andthe presser-bar; movable clamps upon the bending-table; a reciprocatingformer-frame; a counterbalance for the former frame; a former carried bythe frame; sheaves journaled in the former-frame; Winding-drumsjournaled in the main frame; and flexible connections, each secured toone of the drums, passed over one of the sheaves, thence down and havingits other end secured to the outer end of one of the bending-levers.

'15. In a bending-machine, the combination of a presser-bar; a flexiblebending-table; bending levers arranged beneath the table and having theedges of the table secured thereto; pivoted struts pivoting the innerends of the levers; an adjustable tension connection between the leversand the presserbar; a movable former; means for operating the former;and means for operating the levers.

16. In a bending-machine, the combination set forth of a yieldingpresser-bar; a flexible bending-table; bending-levers arranged beneaththe bending-table and secured to the edges thereof; movable supportspivoting the inner ends of the bending-levers; movable clamps arrangedupon the bending-table; a tension device connecting the presser-bar andthe bending-levers; and compensating means arranged connecting theformer with the levers.

17. In a bending-machine, the combination set forth of a main frame; ayielding presserbar; a flexible bending-table; bending-levers arrangedbeneath the bending-table and secured to the edges thereof; pivotedstruts pivoting the inner ends of the bending-levers a tension deviceconnecting the bending-levers with the presser-bar; a movable formerarranged above the bending-table; and an automatic compensatingconnection connecting the former with the levers and adapted to operatethe former and the levers.

18. A wood-bending machine having series of formers arranged in linewith each other and with a space between the ends thereof; and means forsimultaneously bending the materialto be formed, about the series offormers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

19. A wood-bending machine having its bending-table made in sections,andits former made in sections, the ends of the sections being separatedfrom each other; and means for simultaneously operating the sections,substantially as set forth.

20. A Wood-bending machine comprising a frame; a yielding presser-bar; aflexible bending-table made in sections and arranged upon thepresser-bar; bending-levers adapted to operate each section of thebending-table; a movable former made in sections corresponding to thesections of the bending-table, the ends of the former-sections and thesections of the bending-table each being arranged with spaces betweenthem; and suitable means for simultaneously operating the former and thelevers.

21. In a wood-bending machine, the combination set forth of a frame;ayielding presserbar; a flexible bending-table arranged in sectionshaving spaces between them and supported by the presser bar; bendinglevers adapted to bend each section of the bendingtable; a movableformer arranged in separate sections corresponding to the sections ofthe bending-table; movable clamps secured to the edges of thebending-table and made in sections corresponding to the sections of thebending-table; continuous shafts each adapted to operate all the clampsupon one side of to seat the edges of the bands when the yoke 10 thebending-table; and suitable means for is turned flatwise; and keysadapted to key operating the bending-levers the yoke in the slots.

22. In a wood-bendim machine, the clamp T 5 set forth comprising a bztnd formed in an arc of a circle and provided in each end With alongitudinal slot; a yoke having its ends fiat- Witnesses: tened andadapted to pass edgewise through ALFRED I. TOWNSEND, the slots in theband and provided With gains JAMES R. TOWNSEND.

